The Cuban YouTuber Marlon Hernández (@soy_marlonhernandez) has revealed the severe neglect afflicting the once-famous Neptuno and Tritón hotels in Havana.
In the early 1970s, architect Vicente Lanz and his team designed the Hotel Tritón in Havana, a 22-story building with 240 rooms. This was one of the first tall hotels built in the city after 1959. Shortly afterward, the Neptuno tower was added, forming the Neptuno-Tritón complex.
The towers, situated in the Playa municipality, offer breathtaking views of the sea and the city. However, the regime has allowed them to fall into disrepair, leading to their progressive destruction.
By 2016, this hotel complex already showed significant signs of deterioration. The government, unable to afford the extensive repairs needed due to the buildings' proximity to the sea and their age, decided to let the property operate primarily for national tourism.
A night’s stay used to cost more than double the average Cuban salary just a few years ago. Marlon’s images from September 2024 serve as evidence that these once-beautiful buildings no longer provide the excellent service they were known for.
The state's neglect is mockingly evident once again to the Cuban people. The regime invests 14 times more in tourism than in public health and social assistance. Despite this, their strategy for years has not been to restore historically significant hotels in Cuba, which are part of the country's urban heritage, but to create new facilities from scratch at exorbitant costs.
This strategy has not resulted in tourism development. Official statistics show that fewer people are traveling to Cuba. The National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) recorded 1,905,644 travelers from January to July 2024. These numbers fall short of those recorded during the same period last year, with 15,263 fewer travelers arriving in the first seven months of this year.
Amid the current economic, health, political, and social crisis, the Gaviota Group, managed by the Cuban military, announced the opening of new hotels, primarily in Havana and Holguín, in collaboration with 16 foreign chains that manage 80% of their rooms.
Hotels like the Metrópolis, Muthu Tower, and K23 will be inaugurated. The latter has sparked outrage among many citizens who cannot understand the need for such a costly investment in another empty hotel in Havana, while homes, schools, and hospitals are in ruins.
FAQs about the Neptuno Hotel's Neglect in Havana
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the current state of the Neptuno Hotel in Havana and the broader implications of the government's actions.
Why has the Neptuno-Tritón complex fallen into disrepair?
The Cuban government has neglected the complex due to the high costs of necessary repairs and has focused its resources on new tourism projects instead.
How has the neglect of these hotels affected tourism in Havana?
The neglect has contributed to a decline in tourism, as fewer people are visiting Cuba, and the deteriorating infrastructure fails to attract international travelers.
What is the government's current strategy for tourism infrastructure?
The government is focusing on building new hotels from scratch, often at high costs, instead of restoring historically significant hotels.
Who manages the majority of hotel rooms in Cuba?
Around 80% of hotel rooms in Cuba are managed by 16 foreign chains in collaboration with the Gaviota Group, which is directed by the Cuban military.